Machine for combing edges of steel wool strips and process



March 6, 1962 w. GROSS 3,024,069

MACHINE FOR COMBING EDGES OF STEEL WOOL STRIPS AND PROCESS Filed March 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I as INVENTOR 14km); Z. 6 P

BY W

ATTORNEYS March 6, 1962 w; L GROSS 3,024,069

MACHINE FOR COMBING EDGES OF STEEL WOOL STRIPS AND PROCESS Filed March 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 BY WWW ATTORNEY5 March 6, 1962 w. L GROSS 3,024,069

MACHINE FOR COMBING EDGES OF STEEL WOOL STRIPS AND PROCESS Filed March 3, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Wan/n Z fem:

BY WWW/W ATTORNEYS I Filed March 5, 1959 March 6, 1962 w. L GROSS 3,024,069

MACHINE FOR COMBING EDGES OF STEEL WOOL STRIPS AND PROCESS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E5 Willim Lawrence Gross J J M ATTORNEY$ 3,024,069 MACHINE FOR COMEING EDGES OF STEEL WOOL STRWS AND PROCESS William L. Gross, New York, N.Y., assignor to Colgate- Palmolive Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 3, 1959, Ser. No. 796,976 17 Claims. (Cl. 300-21) This invention relates to automatically producing a combed finish on the open ends of rolled metallic wool and is more particularly concerned with a method and apparatus wherein the fibers of the edge areas of metallic wool rolls are combed to produce a desired ragged combed finish so as to facilitate the productionof a more compact pressed metallic wool pad.

This is accomplished in accordance with the present invention by providing a pair of belts spaced apart in back to back relationship for advancing under pressure metallic wool rolls between a plurality of revolving wire brush wheels which are arranged to engage the fibers of the open ends of the rolls and to card the fibers thereof so as to produce the desired ragged combed finish. The construction embodying the principles of the present invention may be applied to metallic wool rolls in general. For example, the principles of the present invention may be applied to rolls of steel wool, aluminum wool, copper wool or other metals suitable in the production of metallic wool pads.

It is, therefore, a major object of this invention to provide a novel apparatus and method for providing a metallic wool roll with a special edge structure that facilitates the production of a more compact metallic wool pad by densification of the open edges of the pad before it is compacted.

Accordingly, a further object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method wherein a roll of metallic Wool is fed to a station that combs the open ends of the roll to produce a ragged combed finish.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus and method wherein metallic wool rolls are squashed flat between two surfaces and advanced under pressure through a combing station wherein the open ends of the rolls are combed to produce a ragged combed finish.

A further object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for advancing metallic wool rolls in succession into endwise engagement with a plurality of rotating wire brush wheels so that the wire brush wheels engage the edges of the rolls to comb the fibrous edge areas of the rolls at right angles to the axes thereof toward a diametrical centerline to produce a ragged combed finish.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel apparatus wherein a pair of belts spaced apart in back to back relationship advance under pressure metallic wool rolls in succession between a plurality of driven revolving wire brush wheels arranged to engage the open ends of the rolls to thereby comb the fibers thereof so as to produce the desired ragged combed finish.

Further objects of the invention will presently appear as the description proceeds in connection with the appended claims and the annexed drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a combing apparatus embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the combing apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a partial vertical section substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a partial plan section substantially along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of upper rates Patent 3,Z4,%9 Patented Mar. 6, 1962 combing mechanisms, and

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 diagrammatically illustrate progressive steps of a manner of beading the ends of the metallic wool pads.

Referring now in detail to FIGURES 1-5, the combing apparatus 10 embodying the principles of the present invention is illustrated as comprising a rectangular tablelike framework 12 which may be built up from angle irons or other suitable structural forms, and advancing mechanism 14 for conveying the metallic wool rolls through the apparatus 10 and a combing mechanism 16 for providing the wool rolls with the special ragged combed finish edge structure as they are being advanced.

The framework 12 has four vertically standing legs 18 rigidly secured together by crosspiece angle irons indicated at 22 or other structural forms so as to provide for a rigid firm structure for supporting the advancing and combing mechanisms 14 and 16.

Mounted above the framework 12 on a frame extension 24 of suitable construction is the metallic wool roll advancing mechanism 14 which advances the metallic wool rolls to be carded from a horizontal feeding platform 26 through the apparatus 10 to a sloped discharge platform 28. This advancing mechanism 14 for conveying the wool rolls through the apparatus 10 comprises a pair of vertically opposed continuous belts 30 and 32 which are spaced apart in back to back relationship and which are movable in opposed parallel spaced apart paths. These belts 3t} and 32 are positioned between the feed platform 26 and the discharge platform station 28 and are adjustably spaced apart by a selected distance so as to form a throat 29 for receiving the metallic wool rolls as they are pushed oil of the feed platform 26.

The upper continuous belt 30 passes around a tubular guide roll 34 and a companion tubular guide roll 36 (FIGURE 1) spaced horizontally apart from the guide roll 34 in parallel relation thereto. The guide roll 34 is non-rotatably mounted on a shaft 38 which is suitably journalled in bearings (not shown) secured or formed in a support frame 40. The frame 40 is afiixed to a longitudinally extending channel 42 which is mounted on the rectangular frame 12 and secured thereto by welding or other suitable means. The companion guide roll 36 is non-rotatably mounted on shaft 44 which is journalled in bearings (not shown) suitably secured or formed in aligned spaced apart bearing supports generally indicated at 46. These bearing supports 46 are adjustably mounted on a base plate 48 so that they are capable of movement for aligning and tensioning the belt 30. The base plate 48 may be of any suitable conventional construction for facilitating the movement of the supports 46 and is afiixed to a channel section 50 which is, in turn, secured to the frame extension 24 by angles 52 or other suitable structural forms.

The lower continuous belt 32 passes around a tubular drive roll 54 (FIGURE 1) and a tubular guide roll 56 spaced horizontally apart from the drive roll in parallel relation thereto. These tubular rolls 54 and 56 are respectively equidistantly align ed vertically below the axes of guide rolls 34 and 36, so that the clearance between adjacent opposed portions of the belts forming the throat 29 is substantially uniform. The tubular drive roll 54 is non-rotatably mounted on a horizontal drive shaft 58 which is suitably journalled in bearings (not shown) secured or formed in the support frame 40. The guide roll 56 is non-rotatably mounted on a shaft '69 which is journalled in bearings (not shown) suitably secured or formed in aligned spaced apart bearing supports 62. These bearing supports 62 are adjustably mounted on a base plate 64 and are capable of movement for aligning and tensioning the lower belt 32. The base plate 64 may be of any suitable conventional structure similar to that of the bearing support base plate 48 and is affixed to the underside of the channel section 50 below the base plate 48.

The driving mechanism for the tubular drive roll 54- is generally indicated at 66 as best illustrated in FIGURE 2 and constitutes a motor 68 or other suitable prime mover which is suitably fastened to a rigid frame base 70 below the tubular drive roll 54. The armature drive shaft (not shown) of the motor 68 is drivingly connected to a speed reduction gear mechanism of any convention construction such as a conventional worm wheel reduction drive, not shown in detail, for selectively varying the speed at which the tubular drive roll 54 is driven and is generally indicated at 72. The output of the speed reduction mechanism 72 drives a shaft 74 which is coupled at 76 to a driven stub shaft 78 journalled in bearings (not shown) formed or secured in aligned spaced apart supports 80 and 81. These supports 80 and 81 are rigidly aflixed by angles 82 to the base 70. Between the shaft supports 80 and 81 a toothed sprocket wheel is fixed for rotation on the driven shaft 78 and is drivingly connected by a continuous chain drive 86 to a toothed sprocket wheel 88 atfixed on the end of the drive roll shaft 58.

To provide for tensioning adjustment of the chain 86, the motor base is pivotally mounted at its left side as viewed from FIGURE 1 on a rod 90 which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the motor 68 below the motor base and which is secured to the frame 12 by angles indicated at 92 or other suitable structural forms. The right side of the motor base 70 as viewed from FIG- URE 1 is supported above the frame 12 by adjusting screws 94 which extend upwardly through the frame 12 and the motor base 70 to threadedly receive nuts indicated at 96 above and below the base so as to support and secure the base 70 in adjusted position.

By this construction, adjustment of the tension on chain 86 is effected by loosening nuts 96, pivoting the base 70 and the toothed sprocket 84 carried thereon about the rod 90, and re-tightening nuts 96 to secure the motor base 70 in a desired position for the proper tensioning of the chain 86. t t

In order to hold the metallic wool rolls squashed flat between the belts 30 and 32, top and bottom reinforcing belt supports 98 and 100 are provided to prevent the belt portions, which engage and compressthe wool rolls from being vertically displaced by the rolls as they are fed into the throat 29. Referring to FIGURE 5, the top belt support 978 is built up from suitable structural bars to form an inverted T in cross section having an upstanding leg 102 perpendicularly affixed by welding or other suitable means to a flat head plate 104. The head plate 104 extends between the tubular belt guide rolls 34 and 3 6 in reinforcing facial abutment with the inner surface of the lower portion of belt 30 which forms the upper portion of throat 29 so as to prevent the belt 30 from being vertically displaced by the metallic wool rolls as they are fed off of the platform 26 and advanced, to the discharge station 28.

The leg 102 of belt support 98 is affixed to a stationary structural plate member 106 by bolts 108 which extend through the leg 102 and through elongated slots 110 (FIGURE 1) formed near the lower edge of plate memher 106 and which are threaded to receive nuts 112 so as to secure the support 98 against movement relative to the plate member 106.

From this construction, it will be appreciated that the elongated slots 110 provided in plate member 106 facilitate vertical adjustment of belt support 98 by loosening nuts 112 and sliding the support 98 up or down. In this manner, the reinforced height of the throat 29 is selectively adjusted to accommodate different sizes of metallic wool rolls and to obtain desired operating conditions. The supporting stationary plate member 106 may be affixed to the frame 12 by suitable structural forms, not

shown in detail, to secure the member 106 against movement.

Similar to the construction of the upper belt support 98 and with continued reference to FIGURE 5, the lower belt support is built up from suitable structure bars to form a T in cross section having a downwardly depending leg 114 perpendicularly aifixed by welding or other suitable means to a flat head plate 116. The head plate extends between the tubular drive roll 54 and the tubular guide roll 56 and is positioned to firmly press upwardly in facial abutting relationship against the underside of the portion of belt 32 forming the lower portion of throat 29. This reinforcing belt support 100 is secured against movement by suitable structural forms, not shown in detail, which may be aflixed to the frame 12. Consequently, by this structure, the throat 29 is formed by belt portions which are held vertically rigid by the belt supports 98 and 100.

With continued reference to FIGURES 1-5, to provide for the ragged combed finish on the metallic wool rolls as they are advanced from the feed station 26 to the discharge station 28 between the belts '30 and 32, two pairs of opposed rotatable wire brush wheels are provided and are designated at 122, 124, 126 and 128. The first pair of wire brush wheels :1'22 and 124 are rotatable about parallel axes spaced apart in the same horizontal plane a selected distance below the center of the throat 29 one on either side of the belts 30 and 32 and which axes are parallel to the movement of the belt. The second pair of wire brush wheels 126 and 128 also are rotatable about parallel axes spaced apart in the same horizontal plane a selected distance above the center of the throat 29 one on either side thereof. These axes of wire brush wheels 126 and 128 also are parallel to the movement of the belts 30 and 32. The upper pair of wire brush wheels 126 and 128 are ofiset to the left of the lower set of wheels 122 and 124 as viewed from FIGURE 1 and when all the wheels used are all of equal diameter, the vertical spacing from the center of the throat 29 and the horizontal spacing from the belts 30 and 32 are preferably the same for each wheel. Consequently, the area of contact of each wire brush wheel on the metallic wool roll as it is advanced between the belts 30 and 32 is the same to assure uniformity of combing action on the fibers forming the open ends of the wool rolls from above and below the rolls.

Accordingly, the structure for mounting the wire brush wheel 122 comprises a spindle 130 (FIGURES 1 and 3) on which the wheel 122 is non-rotatably affixed near one end thereof. The spindle 130 is journalled for rotation in a bearing (not shown) formed or secured in the upper enlarged portion of a support arm 132 and is supported by the arm 132 so that its axis is parallel to and spaced apart from the belts 30 and 32 at a selected distance above the throat 29. By this structure, the peripheral edges of the wire brush wheel 122 face the sides of the belts 30 and 32 at a preselected distance therefrom so as not to engage the belts.

The support arm 132 is pivotally connected at its lower end to a support plate 134 as by pin 136 which is passed through the base of the support plate 134 and the arm 132 and which is threaded to receive nut 138 which secures the arm 132 facially against support plate 134. This support plate 134 extends upwardly in facial abutting relationship with the support arm 132 so as to brace the latter from lateral movement and terminates in a flared portion 140 below the upper end of the arm 132. The flared portion 140 of the support plate 134 is provided with an elongated horizontal slot 142 through which the threaded legs of a U-bolt 1'44 extend and pass around support arm 132 in supporting engagement therewith to secure the support arm 132 against movement relative to the support plate 134 during operation. By this structure, it will be appreciated that arcuate movement of the support arm 132 is facilitated to swingably adjust the wire brush wheel 1 22 toward or away from the belts 30 and 32 by loosening the nut 138 and the U-bolt 144, pivoting the support arm 132 and the wire brush wheel 122 about pin 136, and then tightening the nut 138 and U-bolt 144 to secure the arm 1 3 2 and the wire brush wheel 122 in a desired position relative tothe belts 30 and 32.

Vertical adjustment of the wire brush wheel 122 is facilitated by suitably securing the support plate 134 to a flat horizontal base 148 which is mounted for vertical adjustment on the frame 12 by a series: of bolts 150 having threaded shanks. The bolts 150' extend upwardly through the frame 12 and the base 148, and threadedly receive support and lock nut assemblies indicated at 152. By this construction it is apparent that vertical adjustment of the base 148 and consequently the support plate 134, the support arm 1132 and the wire brush wheel 122 is facilitated by loosening nuts 152, vertically shifting the base 148 and the parts thereon, and retightening the nuts 152 to secure the base 148 and consequently the wire brush wheel 122 in a desired vertical position relative to the throat 29 as operating conditions demand.

Referring now to FIGURES 2-5, on the other side of the belts 38 and 32 from wire brush wheel 122, the wire brush wheel 124 is mounted on the end of a spindle 156 in the same fashion as the wheel 122. The spindle 156 with its axis parallel to that of spindle 130 is similarly mounted for rotation in a support arm 158 which is identical to the support arm 122. In the same fashion as support arm 132 is pivotally mounted, the support arm 158 also is pivotally mounted at its lower end by pin 1 60 (FIGURE 4) on a support 1 62 which is identical to the support plate 134. The support plate 134 also is mounted on the base 148 and is secured thereto by the bolt andnut assemblies indicated at 150 and 152 respectively. By this construction, the vertical adjustment of the base 148 hereinbefore described serves to vertically adjust both the wire brush wheels 122 and 124 at the same time.

The driving mechanism for the lower pair of wire brush wheels 122 and 124 is generally indicated at 166 and constitutes a motor 168 or other prime mover suitably fastened to the rigid base 148. The armature drive shaft (not shown) of the motor 168 is drivingly connected to a speed reduction gear mechanism of any conventional construction as hereinbefore described for selectively varying the speed of the wire brush wheels 122 and 124 and is generally indicated at 170. Referring now to FIGURE 4, the output of the speed reduction mechanism 170 drives a shaft 172 which extends at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the motor 168 and is coupled at 174 to a driven stub shaft 176 which is journalled near its coupled end in a bearing support 177. The opposite end of the stub shaft 176 is journalled in a bearing cap 178 suitably secured toa horizontally inwardly projected portion of pin 160. Keyed or otherwise suitably affixed to the shaft 176 near the bearing cap end thereof is a pulley 1841 which is drivingly connected by a suitable drive belt 182 to a driven pulley 1'84 aflixed to the spindle 156.

Mounted for rotation on the stub shaft 176 intermediate the coupling 174 and the pulley 180 is a gear wheel 186 of any conventional type which meshes with a gear wheel 188 of similar construction. The gear wheel 188 is keyed to a shaft 1'90 which extends parallel to the stub shaft 176 in the same horizontal plane therewith. This shaft 190 is journalled at the end adjacent the support plate 134 in a bearing cap 192 secured to the inwardly projecting end of pin 136 and at its opposite end in a hearing bracket 194.

Affixed to the shaft 190 between the bearing cap 178 and the gear wheel 188 is a pulley 196 which is drivingly connected by a suitable drive belt 198 to a driven pulley 2W mounted for rotation on the spindle 130.

With continued reference now to FIGURES 1-4, the structure for mounting and driving the upper pair of wire brush wheels 126 and 128 is identical to that hereinbefore described in relation to the lower pair of wire brush wheels 122 and 124. Since the component parts of the structure for mounting and driving the upper pair of wire brush wheels 126 and 128 are provided with the same reference numerals as the component parts of the mounting and driving structure and apparatus for the lower pair of wire brush wheels, no further disclosure or explanation is required herein.

In preparation to operation of the combing apparatus 10, the wire brush wheels 122, 124, 126 and 128 are ver tically and arcuately adjusted to accommodate the metallic wool rolls about to be processed so that they engage uniform and equal areas of the metallic wool rolls advanced between the belts 38 and 32 as hereinafter described. The height of the throat also is adjusted to accommodate the desired magnitude of compression of the rolls between the belts 30 and 32. The speeds at which the lower belt drive roll 54 and the wire brush wheels 122, 124, 126 and 128 are rotated are also adjusted by their respective speed reduction mechanisms 72 and to meet operating conditions.

In operation, the motors indicated at 68 and 168 are started to respectively rotate the drive roll 54 and the wire brush wheels 122, 124, 126 and 128. Operation of the two motors indicated at 168 function to separately drive the lower pair of wire brush wheels 122 and 124 and the upper pair of wire brush wheels 126 and 128 through their respective drive trains. As viewed from FIGURE 3, each of the motors indicated at 168 are rotated in such a manner so as to cause the upper .pair of wire brush Wheels 126 and 128- to rotate clockwise and counterclockwise respectively and the lower pair of wire brush wheels 122 and 124 to respectively rotate counterclockwise and clockwise.

The operation of the motor 68 through the drive train generally indicated at 66 rotates the tubular drive roll 54 so as to cause the lower belt 32 to move in a clock- Wise direction. The metallic wool rolls indicated at 202 are fed in succession from the teed platform 26 into the throat 29 and between the belts 30 and 32 with their longitudinal axes at right angles to the belt movement. As the metallic wool rolls 202 are fed between the belts 30 and 32, they are carried forward by the lower moving belt 32 into the throat section 29 where they are compressed and squashed flat between the belts 30 and 32. This engagement of the upper and lower belts 30 and 32 by the metallic wool rolls 282 causes the upper belt 34) to move concomitantly with the lower belt 30 so as to advance the metallic wool rolls toward the discharge station 28.

As the metallic wool rolls are advanced, squashed flat between the belts 30 and 32, the open ends move into engagement first with the upper pair of wire brush wheels 126 and 128 and then the lower pair of wire brush wheels 122 and 124.

The upper pair of wire brush wheels 126 and 128 respectively rotating clockwise and counterclockwise as viewed from FIGURE 3, comb down through the fibrous edge areas of the wool rolls so as to outwardly comb the fibrous edge areas forming the open ends of the wool rolls at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axes thereof to produce the desired ragged combed finish along the upper half of the wool rolls. The lower pair of wire brush wheels 122 and 124 respectively rotating counterclockwise and clockwise, as viewed from FIGURE 3, comb up through the fibrous edge areas of the wool roll so as to outwardly comb the fibrous edge areas forming the open ends of the wool rolls at substantially right angles to the longitudinal axes thereof to produce the desired ragged combed finish along the lower half of the wool rolls.

The metallic wool rolls provided with the specially combed edge structure are then successively discharged from between the belts 3t and 32 onto the discharge platform 28 fromwhich they may be conveyed to a suitable 7 machine (not shown) which presses the rolls into the form of a pad. By virtue of the ragged combed finish, a greater densification of the open edges of the pressed pads is facilitated so as to produce a more compact product.

After the metallic wool rolls have been pressed into pad form, the edge areas along the open ends thereof may be crimped together and beaded.

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 illustrate successive steps in a method that can be used to bead the pad edge areas. In FIGURE 6 a pad 203 is disposed upon a support 204 with its open ends compressed between the support and a pair of motor driven rollers 205 and 206 to thereby compress the metallic wool edges at 207 and 208. During this operation the support and roller pair 205, 206 relatively move perpendicularly to the plane of the drawing so that parallel compressed edge areas 207 and 208 are formed on opposite edges of the pad 203.

Then the pad 203 moves to a second station where the compressed edge areas 207 and 208 are crimped into substantially J-shape as shown in FIGURE 7, by the action of motor driven crimping rollers 209 and 211 and coacting grooves 212 and 213 in the support 214 below.

Finally the crimped pad product of FIGURE 7 enters the station shown in FIGURE 8 wherein the support 215 underlies the pad 203 except at the crimped ends, and the crimped sections are compressed horizontally between the side edges of the support and motor driven beading rollers 216 and 217 that rotate on parallel vertical axes. This closes the crimped edge areas and forms compressed edge beads 218 and '219 on the pad. During the beading operation, it is preferred to compress edge areas of the pad just inwardly of each crimped edge by motor driven holding rollers 221 and 222 as shown, which feeds the pad along the beading path.

Obviously other conventional methods of beading the pad ends may be equivalently employed.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment is therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus for combing the opposite edges of metallic wool rolls, means for advancing said rolls be tween two spaced apart stations, and means intermediate said stations for transversely combing the edge areas of said advancing rolls to produce a ragged combed finish on the open ends thereof.

2. In an apparatus for combing the edges of metallic wool rolls, means for advancing said rolls between two spaced apart stations, means for restraining movement of said rolls relative to said advancing means and means located on opposite sides of said advancing means intermediate said stations for combing the edge areas of said advancing rolls to produce a ragged combed finish on the open ends thereof.

3. In an apparatus for combing the edges of metallic wool rolls having metallic fibers rolled on a longitudinal axis, a plurality of opposed spaced apart rotatable combing members, means for flatly squashing and continuously advancing said rolls between said combing members, said combing members being positioned to operatively engage the ends of said rolls and means for rotating said cornbing members to comb the fibers of said rolls at substantially right angles to the axis thereof to produce a ragged combed finish on the open ends thereof.

4. In apparatus for combing the edges of metallic wool rolls composed of a mass of tangled metallic fibers, at least one pair of combing members rotatably mounted about substantially parallel transversely spaced apart axes, means for advancing said rolls under pressure at right angles to the axes of said rolls to engage said members at opposite ends, and means for rotating said members in opposite directions for combing the fibers along the edge areas of said rolls towards the longitudinal axisthereof to produce a ragged combed finish on the open ends thereof.

5. In an apparatus for combing the edges of metallic wool rolls, at least one pair of combing members rotatably mounted about opposed parallel transversely spaced apart axes, conveyor means for advancing said rolls with their longitudinal axes at right angles to and between the axes of said members in predetermined relationship thereto to effectuate engagement of the edge areas of said rolls with said carding members and means. for rotating said combing members in opposite directions for combing the edge are-as of said rolls continuously outwardly in the direction of longitudinal axes thereof to produce a ragged combed finish on the open ends thereof.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said members comprise wire brush wheels.

7. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said conveyor means comprises conveyor belts movable in parallel opposed paths and spaced apart in back to back relation by a distance that is smaller than the uncompressed diameter of said rolls whereby said rolls being advanced between said belts are compressed along their longitudinal axes.

8. In an apparatus for combing the edges of metallic wool rolls, a plurality of opposed spaced apart rotatable combing members, means for continuously advancing said rolls in succession between said combing members so that the ends of said rolls engage said combing members, means for rotating said combing members to comb the opposite edge areas of said advancing rolls substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axes thereof to produce a ragged combed finish on the open ends thereof and means for compressing said advancing rolls transversely of the longitudinal axis thereof to restrain movement of said rolls relative to said advancing means.

9. The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said combing members comprise wire brushes rotatably mounted on axes which intersect the axes of said wool rolls substantially at right angles.

10. The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein the advancing and compressing means comprise a pair of continuous conveyor belts movable in unidirectional parallel spaced apart paths, said belts being spaced apart by a distance which is less than the uncompressed diameter of said rolls by a preselected magnitude.

11. In an apparatus for combing the edges of fibrous metallic wool rolls, a plurality of opposed spaced apart wire brush wheels rotatably mounted about parallel spaced apart axes, a continuous conveyor belt extending between said wire brush wheels and movable along a path substantially parallel to the axes of said wire brush wheels for continuously conveying said wool rolls between said wheels at right angles to the axes thereof, said wheels being spaced apart by a predetermined distance to engage the open edge areas of said rolls, means for rotating said wheels to comb the fibers forming the edge areas of said rolls to produce a ragged combed finish on the open ends thereof, and a second conveyor belt movable in a path opposed and parallel to the said first conveyor belt, said belts being uniformly spaced apart in back to back relationship by a distance that is less than the diameter of the uncompressed rolls by a selected magnitude whereby said rolls being advanced therebetween are compressed by a predetermined magnitude along their longitudinal axes so as to restrain said rolls against movement relative to said belts.

12. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said conveyor belts are adjustable relative to one another for varying the distance therebetween.

13. The apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein said wire brush wheels are individually adjustable relative to said belts to vary the degree of the combing of said rolls.

14. The method for producing a combed finish on the open ends of metallic wool rolls comprising continuously advancing said rolls transversely of their longitudinal axes in succession through a combing station, and combing the opposite edge areas of said advancing rolls oppositely outwardly in the direction of their longitudinal axes to provide a ragged combed finish.

15. The method of producing a combed finish on the open ends of metallic wool rolls comprising gripping and continuously advancing said rolls transversely of their longitudinal axes through a combing station, and combing the edge areas of said advancing rolls oppositely outwardly as they are advanced through said station to provide a ragged combed finish.

16. The method of producing a metallic Wool pad comprising flatly pressing a rolled section of metallic wool,

combing the edge areas of the rolled section to produce ragged combed edge areas and beading the open ends of said rolled section after the edge areas are thus combed.

17. In apparatus for producing a metallic wool pad, means for flatly pressing and conveying along a path a rolled section of said metallic wool with the opposite edges of said section exposed at opposite sides of the conveying means, and means disposed at least along one side of said path for laterally outwardly combing the adjacent exposed edge area of said rolled section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,859,310 Martin May 24, 1932 2,114,892 Vaughn Apr. 19, 1938 2,308,568 Rogers Jan. 19, 1943 2,572,150 Hood Oct. 23, 1951 2,735,721 Rafferty Feb. 21, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 765,829 Great Britain Jan. 16, 1957 

